French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
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